Culinary device



( Jan. 1, 1935. w RUDOLPH M 1,986,412

CULINARY DEVICE Filed May 29, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 1 1 N VEN TOR.

h a/er /7 Fade/ 06 A TTORNEY.

Jan. 1, 1935.

CULINARY DEVIC E Filed May 29, 1950 W. H. RUDOLPH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wa /ter h.

I N VEN TOR.

Wade/ ob Jan. 1, 1935. w. H. RUDOLPH 1,986,412

CULINARY DEVICE Filed May 29, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet :5

66 70 w I I 1 70c l9 7%; 64 68 70% INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 1, 1935" UNITED .RATE'NT "OFF-ICE j I 1,986,412 v y "CULINARYDME'VIJCE Walter H. kudolph 'Brookiine, Mass. appnmmnm'y 25,1956;shameless I'IG CIaims. (01. 1614s)" This invention relates to'egg cooking machines and particularly to machines of -the type wherein an automatic timing device is'incorporated for the purpose of insuring the cooking of the eggs 5 for a predetermined length of time. "The prin cipal object ofth'e invention is to providea niachine of the charactersetforth' which'will-'bebf marked simplicityof "operation. The-setting of the timing device and the de'pressin'gbf the car-- rier for the eggs to-be cooked'so-asto submerge the eggs into the cooking compartment being affected by the manipulation 'of but a single manually operable member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timing indicator or setting-device on the -top of the machine in a position such-as to be clearly visible to the operator from anyside of the machine. l i

A further'object is to constructthe mai'n'operating parts of the machine in the form 'of a self contained unitary structurecapable'bf be ing attached to any suitable receptaclefthereby obviating the necessity for the-construction of a special tank equipped with slidesand' guide pieces such as'characterize machines of this-type as heretoforeconstructed.

Another object is tbconstruct the principal operating parts as above "set forth in standard units each of which is capableof being detach-- ablysecured to a suitable tank whereby machines of different capacity maybe assembled-merely by securing any'desi'rednumber of units-to the tank, thus enabling marked savings tobe effected in the manufacturing cost as a'result of stand ardizati'on of the product;

A further object is to constructthe "units,'hereinbefore referred to, in a manner such that 'a single source of power such as anelectric'motor any desired number of units.

Another. object isto 'so construct-theunits, hereinbefore referred to, that the partsthereof or clockmechanism may-be employedto operate can bemade from standard'gears,"springs, tubing and coldrolled steel stock thereby eliminating as far as possible high production costs that would otherwisebe involved if special castings-stampirigsorthe likewereemployed.

A further object is toprovideamachinejof the character'described in whic'h not only'the operating mechanism but the egg receptacle is readily removable from the cooking "tank or compartment and in which thecompartment is free from projecting parts so that it may be readily cleaned whenever desirable 'cr necs's'ary because of the breakageofany-bf'the eg s and the" adherence to the sides ofthe compartment of 7 the contents of the eggs.

"-Another object is to provide an egg cooking machine of attractive appearance, of compact,

sturdy, anddurable, construction, of marked accuracy of timing, and in which the operating mechanism is effectively encasedto prevent tarrushing or corrosion of the same, and of marked ment, the rate of drainage of the water from the receptacle-will be controlled sothat said receptacle willperform the functions of a dash pot to prevent shock or jarto the eggs or operating mechanism. a

'I he above and other objects of the inventio will appear-morefully-from the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying'drawings forming a part hereof wherein asatisfactory constructional example of aimac'hineembodying the principles of'the present inventionhasbeen selected for the purpose of illustration an'dwher'ein:

"Fig; 1is a-rearelevation of an egg cooking machineembodying the principles of the invention; h

Fig.2 is a side elevation partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a plan View, partly in section, and partly -brkenaway; r

Fig. is acentral longitudinal section through one-of the standard units including the operating mechanism; V

Figs. 5'and 6 are sections on the lines 5-5 and 6 "6 respectively of Fig.4;

Fig. I is 'asectio'rial detail on line 7-7 of Figxil is a detail, in perspective, of a latching lever; v

Fig.-'=9is adetail, in perspective, of a swinging lever for actuating the timinggears intoand out o'ffmeshing relationship;

'Fig! '10 is a detail, 7 in side elevation, of a threadedsleeve or -nut securing the operating knob or handle to the machine;

Figs. 11,12 and 13 are-details, inside elevation, of a-plurality of telescoping members which f ormsa'part' of the means for "setting and actuating the timing mechanism into the desired position. i

Asshown in-Fig. 1 of the drawings, the inventioh contemplates theprovision of standard units showh'i'n elevation in Fig. 1, and designated generally by the reference character 10. In Fig. 1

of the drawings, two of such units are shown as secured to a tank, designated by the reference character 11. The unit at the left hand side of the figure is shown in elevated or inoperative position, while the unit at the right hand side is shown in depressed or operative position. The tank 11 may be of any suitable or desirable construction capable of containing a quantity of water in which the eggs to'be cooked are submerged. This tank or the contents thereof may be heated electricallypr by placing t dsame over a gas burner or other suitable heating de- VlCB.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 4, each' unit 10 includes a bracket 12 which projects-into the tank 11 and carries an egg containing basket 13.

16, 17. The guide 17 is'preferably formed integrally with a housing 18 which encases the timing gears and other actuating mechanism presently to be described. To the outer face of said housing is secured, as by the screws 19, a cover plate-20, (Fig. 1). This cover-plate 20 is provided witha pair of apertures 21 arranged in axial alignment with a pair of 7 screws 22 threaded into the back wall of the housing 18 and which, as shown in Figs. 2 and4, are adapted to beclamped against the wall of the tank 11 to clamp the unit 10 securely in position upon said tank. 7

.Mounted in an annular recess formed in the housing 18 and the guide 16 is an outer telescoping tubular casing consisting of the members 23, 24 and 25. The top of this casing is closed by a. top plate 26 which, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided with suitable indicia 27 to indicate the different time intervals for which the machine is adapted to be set to secure a cooking of the.

eggs. to the desired predetermined condition. Mounted for rotation above the plate 26, and in proper operative relationship to the indicia 27, is a pointer 28 which projects laterally from an annular plate 29. The plate 29 isclamped in position by a ferrule 30 in which is secured an actuating knob 31, or other suitable manipu-.

lating member, for setting the unit and actuating it as will hereinafter be described. Suitably secured within and projecting downwardly from the knob 31 is a small post 32 which preferably passes with a press fit into a threaded.

sleeve or nut 33. At its lower end the post 32 is bored and screw threaded for the reception of a headed screw 34 which serves'to draw the ferrule 30 and knob 31, into clamped engagement with said sleeve 33. The sleeve 33, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, is threaded into a cooperating internally threaded sleeve or nut 35, the latter passing through an aperture in the top plate 26 and having an annular flange 36 which engages with the under side of said top plate. Interposed between the ferrule 30 of the knob 31 and the top plate 26, is a cup-shaped spacing sleeve 37 the edge of the annular flange of which engages the top face of the plate 26. When the knob 31 is secured to the nut 33 and the latter is screwed home into the internally threaded nut 35 with the spacing sleeve 37 placed upon the upper face of the plate 26, as shown'in Fig. 4, the space between the opposed faces of the flange 36 and the flange ofthe sleeve 37 will be just sufficient to permit relative rotation between the knob 31, and theparts con- The bracket 12 is suitably securedas" by means of the bolts 14, (Fig. 4)",tolthe lower end of a vertically extending rod 15. This rod 15 is slidably mounted between a pair of guides nected thereto, and the plate 26, but will prevent any appreciable longitudinal movement of said knob relatively to said plate. The indicia 27 may be formed directly upon the plate 26, or may be provided upon a separate thin sheet 38, of any suitable material. As will be readily understood from an inspection of Fig. 4 the plate 29 which includes the indicating pointer 28, is also clamped in position relatively to the knob 31 by means of the nuts 33- and 35 and the pacing sleeve 3 7- The plate 26 is held against rotation by means of its connection tothe post 3-15, said connection as shown consisting of a small knee shaped bracket 39 and screws 40, 41.

At its lower end, the nut 35 is provided with a depending annular flange 42 which defines a recess 43 having 'at its inner end a small annular groove 44. Seated within the recess 43 is a tubular telescoping member 45 having at its upper 'end a small projecting rib which is adaptedto seat within' the annular recess 44. The telescoping member 45 is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending diametrically opposed slots 46 which form keyways in which are slidably received a pair of laterally projectinglugs or keys 47 formed at the upper end of a second-tubular member 48. The keyway slots 46 in the tubular member 45 permit the upper end of the member 45 to be sprung inwardly so that the small rib'at the upper end thereof may be engaged within the annular recess 44 in the flange 42. After the tubular member 45 is seated within the flange 42, the parts aredrilled for the reception of a transversely extending pin 49 which. holds the parts in assembled position. At its lower end, the member 48 is provided with a-pair, of-inwardly projecting lugs or keys 47a which, as shown in Fig. 4, are slidably engaged within apair of diametricallyopposed, longitudinally extending, keyways 50 formed in the lower-most member51 of the telescoping parts 45, 48, 51. In order to prevent the disengagement of the member 48 from the member 51, the latter is provided near its upper end with a transversely extending pin 50athe ends of which project into the keyways 50- and are adapted to engage with the inwardly turned lugs 47a located at'thelower endof, the member 48. A hole 481; is provided in member 48 for insertion of thepin 50a, said pin being put in place after theassembling of the members45, 48, 51.

The lowermost member 51 is in the form of a shaft the lower vendof which. projects into the housing 18 and passes slidably through a pair of axially aligned apertures formed in the vertically spaced thrust plates 52,-- 53. These thrust plates 52, 58 are formed integrally with a bracket 54, (see Figs. land 6 which is screwed to the innerface of the cover plate 20 of the housing 18. Mounted between the thrust plates 52, 53 and slidably, but non-rotatably, associated with thelowermost telescoping member 51 is a spiral gear 55. This gear is in meshing engagement with a similar gear 56 keyed to a jackend of a swinginglever 65. At its upper end,-

shaft 57'. The clockwise movement impartedto the lever 65 by the counter clockwise swinging of the lever 67 will cause the spur gear 63, carried by the lower end of the lever 65, to be moved into mesh with the spur pinion 69 upon the main driving shaft 70. Assuming that the shaft is rotated by the synchronous motor '71, the driving effect will be communicated through the gears 69 and 63, to gear 62; the direction of rotation being such as to cause the gear 62 to be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction against the action of the spiral spring 83. The pin will; therefore, travel away from the lug 61, and, after the lapse of 3 minutes, according to the assumed setting of the knob 31, will come into engagement with the lug 76a upon the latching lever 76. When the knob 31 has been depressed, as above described, to the lower-most limit of its travel, the collar 82 upon the lower end of the upper telescopic member 45 engages under the latch 760 of the latching lever 76, the spring causing the latch to snap over the collar 82 and hold the parts in their lowermost depressed position. v I

The parts will be held in this lowermost position during the time required for the pin '75 to travel fromits set position against the lug 61 until it engages the lug 76a of the latching lever. When this occurs the latching lever '76 will be moved upon its pivot 77 in a counter-clockwisedirection against the action of the spring 80. The latch 76%: is therefore swung backwardly a sufiicient distance to-release the collar 82 and the parts are moved upwardly by the spring 81. Immediately upon the release of the latch 76c, and, as the pin 49 moves out of engagement with the top of the lowermost tubular member 51, the spring 80 will functionthrough the rocker plate 80:: to cause the member 51 and thrust collar 72 to move upwardly, thereby imparting a swinging to the lever 6'7 in a clockwise direction and thus moving the gear 63 out of mesh with the pinion 69. As the gear 63 is so moved out of mesh with the pinion 69, the gear 62 will'be free to move in a'clockwise direction under'the influence of the spiral spring 63 and the pin 75 will then be carried back to again contact with the lug 61; the backward clockwise movement of the gear 62 and pin '75 being stopped when the latter engages with the lug 6 Upon the release of the latch 76c from the collar 82 and the upward movement of the plate 26 by the spring 81 this upward movement is of course communicated through the post 15 and bracket 12 to the tray 13 thus causing the tray to be elevated out of water. The tray 13 is preferably perforated to permit the water to drain through the bottom thereof but these perforations are so dimensioned that the water will drain gradually from the tray 13 as the latter moves upwardly. At the beginning of its upward movement,, the tray being entirely submerged, the spring 81 will have to overcome the weight of the tray, and of the eggs and waterv therein, and the potential force of the spring when fully compressed can just overcome the weight to be lifted, the lifting movement therefore begins slowly. As the tray moves upward, the reduction in weight due to the drainage of the watercompensates for the reduced force of the spring as itextends, hence there will be no sudden jars or shocks. In this upward movement it-will of course be understood that the inner telescopic members 45, 48, 51, as well as the telescoping outer casing members, 23, 24,25,

move to their Fig; 4. As shown in the drawings the latching lever 76 is preferably extended through an elongated aperture or slot 85 in the cover plate 20 so that the latch 760 may be disengaged by a manual operation of the lever 76 if desired.

It will be seen'from' the foregoing description that any desired number of units may be detachably-secured upon the side of any suitable tank or cooking vessel and, as but a very small amount of power is required to actuate the single train of gears of each unit that causes the movement of the pin 75 to disengage the latch 760, a single synchronous motor may be employed to actuate a plurality of units. The operation, however, of each unit is entirely independent of the other units, for example, one unit may be set for boiling eggs for two minutes while the unit immediately adjacent thereto may be set to boil eggs for five minutes, without the difference in setting of one of the two units in anywise elfecting the operation of the other.

It will be noted that the main operating parts located within the housing 18 are carried by the sub-frame formed by the brackets 54, and 58, and, that, as said brackets are secured to the detachable cover plate 20, such parts may be readily removed for inspection or repair; this constructional expedient also facilitates the assembling of the parts in the manufacture of the device.

It will also be noted that most of the parts of the mechanism may be readily constructed of standard stock gears, tubing, cold rolled stock or the like, and that therefore the device may be manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

While I have shown a satisfactory constructional example that has proven successful in actual practice, itwill be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific constructional details of the example selected for illustration, but that many changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the'prin'ciples of the invention. w While the invention has been described by way of example in connection with the boiling of eggs it will be understood that such example has been selected merely for convenience of description and that-the device. may be successfully used for many different purposes where it is necessary or desirable to cause mechanical movement to take place after the desired predetermined period of time has elapsed.

I claim:

1. In an egg cooking machine of the type wherein an egg receptacle is adapted, by the actuation ofa manually operable handle, to be submerged in a body of water in cooking vessel for time interval predetermined by the adjustment of a time controlled mechanism and to be automatically elevated out of said water at the expiration of said time interval, characterized by the pro-vision of a single operating handle for depressing said receptacle and connections from said handledirectly to said receptacle and additional connections from said handle to said time controlled mechanism for adjusting the latter by the manipulation of said handle to set said mechanism to vary said time interval, said time control mechanism and the connections to said handle being located exteriorly of said cooking vessel.

[2. An egg cooking machine'of the type wherein an'egg receptacle is adapted to be submerged fullyextended position shown in in abody of water fora time'interval*1aredeter--" mined by'the adjustment, of'ia time controlled. mechanism and to be automatically "elevated out of said water at the expiration ofsaidtimeinter val, characterized by an actuatinggearingadapt ed to be driven from a shaft rotating at a substantially uniform angular velocity, said gearing including a rotary latch releasing "member, and an adjustable stop for governing the extent of rotation of said latch releasing" member; a manually operablehandle and gearing "connect ing said handlewith said stop for'settingsaid stopin adjusted position. v

3. In an egg cooking machine, a housing, a chronometrical' mechanism including a rjeleasable latching lever, a tripping'fldevice ior 'said 1ever, an adjustable member for governing tl ejex-' tent 'of"move ment of said trippingpdevice, a

manually operable handle, means fof renderingj said jmechanism active" and inactive and connections" between said handle and said means andbetween said handle and said adjustable member for actuating either said means or said member by manual. operationfofsaidhandle.

' 4. In an egg cooking machinegafunitaryStine ture adapted to be detachablymounted on aI water container and comprising an egg recep tacle mounted for movement into and out of'the' water in said container, means for normally holding said receptacle out of s'aid'water, 'a

handle for moving said receptacleinto the water,-

a motor driven time controlled gearing and means for disconnecting said geariii'gand motor when said receptacle is out"'of,fsaidwater, and" connections betweenfsaidhandle and said last named means for connecting said gearing, and; motor when said handle is actuatedto cause said receptacle to be submerged in said water,

5, In an egg cooking machine, a unitary struc ture mounted upona water container and com-v I prising an egg receptacle mountedi fonmovement into and out of the water iii'said'container,

trolled gearing including an adjusting device adaptedto be set to a plurality of positions forrendering said earin ino "erativet af er; the" i g ating; them by manipulation of said handle.

elapse of a predetermined time interval fisccordance with the setting of'saidj j device, and connections, between said receptacle and"said adjusting device for musing the reciprocating movement of said handle to move said receptacle into and out of said water, and for causing the rotatable movement of said handle to set said adjusting device.

6. In an egg cooking machine, a unitary structure secured to a water containing tank, comprising an egg receptacle, a single operating handle, means connected with said handle and said receptacle to cause said handle when moved in one direction to submerge said receptacle in the water in said tank, a time controlled gearing and mechanism, operatively associated with said handle and gearing, for rendering said gearing operative after said handle in its movement in said one direction causes the egg receptacle to be submerged, resilient means for normally holding said receptacle out of said water, a latch for retaining said receptacle in said wateragainst the action of said resilient means, an adjustable device associated with said gearing for releasing said latch and means actuated by movement in said handle in another direction for setting said adjustable device.

7. A culinary machine of the type that in-.-

cludes a receptacle adapted to be moved into a cooking vessel, means for automatically moving the receptacle out of said vesselat the end of a predetermined time interval and time controlled gearing including adjustable means for governing-the length of said time interval, characterized "by the provision of a single operating said guid-eway, a bracket carried by one endioi said post, a receptacle detachably mounted on saidbracket, amanually operable handle connected to theother end of said post, resilient means operatively associated with said handle foY-norrriallyurging said bracket and receptacle outwardly'of said compartment, time controlled gearingmounted in said gear housing, a plurality of telescopic control members connecting said gearing and handle, and a telescopic casing enclosing said post, said resilient means and.

said telescopic v control members.

9. In a culinary device, a' unit adapted tobe secured to a cooking compartment and comprising a gear housing having a guideway secured thereto, a post slidably mounted in said guideway, a bracket carried by one end of said post, a receptacle detachably mounted on said bracket, a-manually operable handle connected to the other endof' said post, resilient means operatively associated with said handle for normally urging said bracket and receptacle outwardly of said compartment, time controlled gearing including an adjustable device, means for throwing said gearing into and out of'operative condition and means connecting said. handle with said adjustabledeviceand said last namedmeans for actu- 10; Ina culinary device, a unit adapted to be secured to' a, cooking compartment andjcomprismg; gear housing having a guideway secured thereto; a post slidably mounted in said guideway, a bracket carried by one end of said post, a receptacle detachably mounted on said bracket, a manually operable handle connected to the other end of said post, resilient means operatively associated with said handle for normally urging said bracket and receptacle outwardly of said compartment, time controlled gearing including an adjustable device, means for placing said gearing into and out of operative condition, and means connecting said handle with said adjustable device and said last named means, in-

cluding a plurality of telescopic members connected for relative longitudinal, but non-rotative,

movement.

11. A timing device of the type wherein means for actuating a movable member are caused to function at the end of a predetermined time interval, comprising a main driving shaft and means for actuating it at an accurately controlled uniform angular velocity, a latch releasing member, gearing including an adjustable means between said main shaft and said member and. a manually operable handle for setting said means to different adjusted positions to vary said time interval and for placing said gearing in operative condition.

12. In a culinary device, a unit adapted to be secured to a cooking compartment, said unit comprising a receptacle movable into and out of said compartment, resilient means for normally holding said receptacle out of said compartment, a manually operable handle for actuating said receptacle against the action of said resilient handle for varying the extent of rotation of said device.

13. In a culinary device, a unit adapted to be secured to a cooking compartment and comprising a receptacle movable into and out of said compartment, a main driving shaft and means for driving it at an accurately predetermined,

uniform rate of speed, gearing connected with 1 said driving shaft, resilient means for normally holding said receptacle in an inoperative position relatively to said compartment, a manually operable handle movable in one direction for: mov-' 'ing said receptacle, against the action of said resilient means, into an operative position, a latching device for retaining said receptacle against movement by said resilient means after it has been moved to said operative position,

means operatively associated with said handle and gearing for rendering said gearing operative only when said receptacle reaches said operative position, means actuated by said gearing for automatically releasing said latching device at the end of a predetermined time interval, an adjustv able stop associated with said gearing and means connecting said stop and handle for setting said' stop by movement of said handle in'. another di rection for varying said time interval.

.14. A culinary device of the type'wherein a food receptacle is mounted for movement by actuation of a manually operable handle into a cooking compartmentand is held therein by a latching device which is automatically released and the receptacle moved from said compart ment after a predetermined time interval, charsaid gearing including a rotatable latch releasing member, an adjustable stop for engagement by. said latch releasing member and connections between said handle and adjustable stop, for setting the latter' at different-angular distances from said member thereby to vary the amount of travel of said member.

, 15. A culinary device of the type wherein a food receptacle is mounted for movement by actuation of a manually operable handle into a cooking compartment and is held therein by a latching device which is automatically released and, the receptacle moved from said compartment after a predetermined time interval, characterized by a gear housing, a reduction gearing mounted therein, including a main driving shaft, means for connecting said shaft to a chronometric driving motor, said gearing including means for releasing said latching device, means interposed between said releasing means and said driving shaft for connecting and disconnecting said gearing and connections from said manually operable handle to said last named means for operating the same by the actuation of said handle. f

16. In'a' culinary device an unitary structure having means for detachably securing it to a cooking vessel and comprising a receptacle, a handle for moving said receptacle into said vessel, automatic means for moving said receptacle from said vessel at the end of a predetermined time interval, a telescoping housing connecting said receptacle and handle and located at one side and. exteriorly of said vessel, a gear housing belowsaid telescoping housing exteriorly of said vessel, time controlled gearing within said gear housing and connections from said handle to said gearing extending throughsaid telescoping housing for adjusting said gearing to vary said time interval, said gearing and connectionsbeing completely enclosed within said housing and out of the patlrcf steam, smoke or fumes from said cooking vessel.

WALTER I-I. RUDOLPH.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,986,412. January 1, 1935.

WALTER H. RUDOLPH.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correctien as follows: Page 3, line 67, second column, for "and" read end; and page 5, second column, line 16, claim 7, alter "latter" insert the words when said; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of February, A. D. 1935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

